Kahnawa’kehró:non paddles the Pacific

Kahnawake’s Suzy Goodleaf has done a lot of paddling in her life, taking part in events close to home and gone abroad to places like Hawaii, but there are still some opportunities that are novel for someone like her.

That includes taking part in Vaka Eiva, the International Outrigger Canoe Festival in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, in the South Pacific.

Goodleaf was invited by one of her Canadian dragonboat team members to join the Ngā Hau E Whā Outrigger Wahine team, run by New Zealander paddling coach Vesna Radonich, for the changeover race - during a 30 KM race around Rarotonga, a few paddlers switch in and out every 40 minutes, with those switching out getting 20 minutes of rest in a support boat.

Switching out involves jumping into the water and getting in the support boat while it is moving.

“It is challenging,” said Goodleaf, who had never done this kind of race before.

“Frankly, I was very afraid of the big waves and being dropped off in the ocean. Getting back into the boat takes a lot of energy and strength.”

What helped her get over that fear was when, a week prior to the race, the team’s nine women taking part in the Master Women 60+ race practiced, doing mixed races - when men and women paddle on the same team.

“That is when I overcame my fear. There were experienced paddlers in the boat who had the motivation to win. So, the fear went away quickly, and focus took over,” said Goodleaf.

After the race was done, she said she had a better sense of how the team would work together and became fast friends with those she paddled with.

Even though Goodleaf had very limited experience paddling with the other members of the team, she said that Radonich made it easy for them to bond together.

“Her goal is to bring women together from around the world to race, in different events, mostly in the south Pacific,” said Goodleaf.

The team, made up of women from New Zealand (two of whom were Māori), two from the United States, two from Australia, and two from Canada (including Goodleaf), trained separately, but connected through monthly online meetings, where they got to know each other.

“It was an amazing team of women both on and off the water. Vesna’s way of thinking is that the team works better on the water when they have a connection off the water as well,” said Goodleaf.

It paid off, with Ngā Hau E Whā Outrigger Wahine winning the Master Women 60+ changeover race, with a time of three hours, 46 minutes, and 34 seconds.

“I was happy to be successful,” said Goodleaf.

She also participated in two other races during the festival, a six-KM race and a five-KM mixed race.

She said that the time spent racing in the Pacific was well worth it, not just for the challenge, but also as a way to grow personally.

If it was up to her, she’d spend the whole winter racing in the Pacific.

“I’d love to, but I have to work!”

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